Exercise accessory

ABSTRACT

An exercise accessory, such as a towel or scarf, includes a fabric article having a length and a width and at least one slot formed through the article. An edge of the fabric article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user&#39;s body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/760,513, filed Feb. 4, 2013, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/823,751, filed May 15, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a towel or scarf accessory for exercise, particularly for use during or after performing Yoga, Pilates, weightlifting, running and other perspiration-causing exercises.

Certain types of exercises, such as Yoga, are performed in hot and humid conditions which cause a significant amount of perspiration to drip from the body. Other exercise activities also result in significant perspiration. Towels and scarves are frequently used during or following such exercises to wipe perspiration from a user's body.

Many users keep a towel or scarf around their necks or other parts of the body during exercise in order to help remain cool and absorb perspiration. However, such conventional exercise towels and scarves often fall out of place during exercise. Falling or slipping towels or scarves distract the user during exercise and hinder the user's body from properly cooling down.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an exercise accessory comprises a layer or article (hereinafter collectively referred to as an “article”) having a length and a width, and at least one slot formed through the article. An edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body.

In another embodiment, an exercise accessory comprises an article having a length and a width, and at least one slot formed through the article. The article includes a sweat-absorbing material that cools upon application and evaporation of water. An edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body. A high-friction material is disposed along a portion of the slot.

In another embodiment, a method of cooling off during or after an exercise comprises placing an exercise accessory, including an article and a slot formed in the article, around a part of a user's body, and inserting at least a portion of an edge of the article through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to the part of the user's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a front side of an exemplary towel embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a rear side of the exemplary towel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the exemplary towel of FIG. 1 worn on a user.

FIG. 4 is a view of the user performing an exercise with the exemplary towel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a front side of an alternative embodiment of an exemplary towel embodying the invention

FIG. 6 is a view of the user performing an exercise with the exemplary towel of FIG. 5.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exercise accessory in the form of a towel 10 including a front side 20, a back side 30 opposite the front side 20, a length 11, and a width 12. Although the term “towel” is used herein, the present invention is applicable to other types of articles, including, but not limited to, a scarf, handkerchief, shawl, or bandana. The illustrated towel 10 may have a length 11 equal approximately to an elbow-to-elbow length of an exerciser. An exemplary length 11 is four feet and an exemplary width 12 is one foot. However, the towel 10 may have other lengths and widths as appropriate for various sizes of exercisers or other applications. The towel 10 may have substantially any suitable thickness, weave, knap length, or color.

The towel 10 can be made from a variety of materials or fabrics including cotton, acrylic, and various synthetic blends. However, in a preferred embodiment, the towel 10 is made from materials which allow the towel to become cold upon application and evaporation of water. The towel 10 may include a strap (not shown) to facilitate transport, as described in U.S. Pat. Application No. 13/028,328, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the towel 10 includes slots 40 disposed on the front side 20 thereof and extending through the thickness and into the back side 30. The slots 40 may be substantially centered along the width 12 and may be formed at approximately one-third to approximately one-fourth of the lengthwise distance from each edge 13, 14 (i.e., the short edges 13, 14 across the width 12 in the illustrated embodiment) or end of the towel 10. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, each slot 40 has a length of approximately 2″ (which in the illustrated embodiment is measured in the direction of the width 12 of the towel 10) and is disposed approximately 11″ from each edge of the towel 10. The number of slots 40 is not limited to two. Other configurations of slots 40 are possible, including a single slot, or more than two slots 40 disposed parallel to each other, evenly or unevenly spaced along the length 11 of the towel. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the slot(s) 40 can be formed approximately at the mid-length of the towel 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the slots 40 are disposed symmetrically on the towel 10 along both the length 11 and the width 12. However, the slots 40 may be disposed asymmetrically along only one of the length 11 and width 12, or may be disposed entirely asymmetrical.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the towel 10′ may include one or more slots 40′ disposed across the width 12′ of the towel 10′. The slots 40′ may be spaced evenly or unevenly along the width 12′ and may be disposed linearly or non-linearly. The slots 40′ may be formed near each edge 13′, 14′ (i.e., the short edges 13, 14′ along the width 12′ in the illustrated embodiment) or end of the towel 10′, for example at approximately one-third to approximately one-fourth of the distance from the ends 13′, 14′ along the length 11′. The slots 40′ may be formed near one edge/end or near two opposite edges/ends or approximately at mid-length as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, in one exemplary embodiment with the towel 10′ having three slots 40′ spaced equally across the width 12′ and at about the mid-length of the towel 10′, a user may fold the towel 10′along fold lines running lengthwise into segments that are each ⅓ the width of the towel to overlap and align the slots 40′ spaced across the width 12′. Pulling one end of the towel 10′ through all three of the aligned slots 40′ secures the towel 10′ and allows the towel 10′ to lay comfortably around the neck of a user.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, each slot 40′ has a length of approximately 2″ (which in the illustrated embodiment is measured in the direction of the width 12′ of the towel 10′) and is disposed approximately 11″ from an edge of the towel 10′. The number of slots 40′ is not limited to three. Other configurations of slots 40′ are possible, including a single slot, or more than three slots 40′ disposed linearly, evenly or unevenly spaced along the width 12′ of the towel 10′.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the slots 40, 40′ may be lined with a high-friction, non-slip material 45, 45′ that helps prevent the portion of the towel inserted through the slot from falling out of the slot 40, 40′. For example, in alternative embodiments, high-friction material 45, 45′ could be disposed along an entire perimeter of the slots 40, 40′. Alternatively, two or more high-friction material 45, 45′ areas, for example, could be disposed extending along the length or the width of the slots 40. As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous other arrangements of high-friction material 45 areas are possible in accordance with the present invention.

The non-slip, high-friction material 45, 45′ can be any rubbery substance made from any material such as rubber, plastic, PVC, silica gel, or any other substance that creates a high-friction, non-slip finish. Other high-friction rubbery materials may be used in place of the PVC vinyl material. The high-friction material 45 preferably forms a smooth finish without projections.

To use the towel 10, 10′, the exerciser first places the towel 10, 10′ around his or her body, for example, around the neck, waist, or hips, as shown in FIGS. 3,4, and 6. Then, the exerciser takes one end of the towel 10, 10′ (e.g., including one of the two short edges and adjacent portions of the long edges), which can be folded, rolled, or otherwise manipulated, and inserts at least a portion of the end/edge through at least one of the slots 40, 40′, pulling the end/edge through the chosen slot(s) 40, 40′ to secure the towel against his or her body, as best viewed in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. Further exercise may then be performed while the towel 10, 10′ is secured to the body, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. During this time, due to the portion of the towel 10, 10′ being pulled through the slot 40, 40′, the towel 10, 10′ does not fall from the user's body during exercise. Further, the high-friction material 45, 45′ lining the slots 40, 40′ helps prevent slippage of the end/edge of the towel 10, 10′ back through the slot 40, 40′.

While embodiments of the invention disclosed herein describe exercise towels or scarves having at least one slot, one skilled in art should recognize that alternative configurations may be employed without deviating from the scope of the invention. 

1. An exercise accessory, comprising: a fabric article having a length and a width; and at least one slot formed through the article, wherein an edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body.
 2. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of the slots spaced across the width of the article.
 3. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot is centered across the width of the article.
 4. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein a high-friction material is disposed along a portion of the at least one slot.
 5. The exercise accessory according to claim 4, wherein the high-friction material covers an entire periphery of the at least one slot.
 6. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein a material of the fabric article cools upon application and evaporation of water.
 7. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the slot is spaced from an edge of the article in a direction of the length of the article by approximately one-fourth of the length of the article.
 8. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the article is a towel.
 9. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the article is made of a sweat-absorbing material.
 10. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the article is approximately four feet in length.
 11. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot is oriented parallel to the width of the article.
 12. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the article comprises at least two slots, wherein the slots are evenly spaced across the width of the article.
 13. The exercise accessory according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed symmetrically along one of the width of the article.
 14. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed asymmetrically along the length and the width of the article.
 15. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the article.
 16. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot is oriented parallel to the length of the article.
 17. The exercise accessory according to claim 1, wherein the article comprises at least two slots, wherein the slots are evenly spaced along the length of the article.
 18. An exercise accessory, comprising: an article having a length and a width, the article including a sweat-absorbing material that cools upon application and evaporation of water; and at least one slot formed through the article, wherein an edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body, and wherein a high-friction material is disposed along a portion of the slot.
 19. A method of cooling off during or after an exercise, the method comprising: placing an exercise accessory, including a fabric article and a slot formed in the fabric article, around a part of a user's body; and inserting at least a portion of an edge of the article through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to the part of the user's body.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the part of the user's body is a neck, wrist, waist or hips. 